The following signs are not subject to the regulations of this chapter of the ordinance and do not require a zoning permit:
A. 
National or state flags.
B. 
Window displays or other signs erected inside a structure or that cannot be seen from outside a structure.
C. 
Governmental signs and other signs required by a governmental agency authorized for a public purpose by law, statute, ordinance, regulation or policy.
D. 
Athletic scoreboards provided that sponsor advertising on the sign does not exceed 25% of the surface area of the sign, or any other sign advertising a sponsor and erected in a public recreational facility such as the signs attached to the outfield fences in a baseball field.
E. 
Warning signs, no-trespassing signs, no-parking signs, towing signs, and other similar signs, provided that they are constructed in accordance with state law and do not exceed two square feet in gross surface area for each exposed face nor exceeding an aggregate gross surface area of four square feet.
F. 
Parking lot directional signs containing no advertising either erected pursuant to an approved land development plan, or signs otherwise designating parking area entrances and exits limited to one sign for each entrance and exit and not exceeding four square feet in gross surface area for each exposed face and not exceeding five feet in height.
G. 
Parking lot and loading zone instructional signs either erected pursuant to an approved land development plan, or signs otherwise identifying a parking lot area and not exceeding eight square feet in gross surface area for each exposed face nor exceeding an aggregate gross surface area of 16 square feet, and not projecting higher than 10 feet for walls signs and seven feet for ground signs.
H. 
Memorial signs such as grave markers that are not commercial in nature and erected for the purpose of remembering a person or an event.
I. 
Name and address signs identifying the name and address of the owners or occupants, including those signs erected for 911 purposes, provided that the signs do not exceed two square feet in gross surface area for each exposed face and having an aggregate gross surface area of four square feet.
J. 
Holiday signs, which are erected as a decoration to temporarily display a traditionally accepted civic, patriotic, or religious holiday related to observance of the civic, patriotic, or religious holiday.
K. 
Religious symbols, commemorative plaques of recognized historical agencies, or identification emblems of religious orders or historical agencies not exceeding two square feet in gross surface area for each exposed face and not exceeding four square feet in aggregate gross surface area.
L. 
Permanent, nonflashing signs, on gasoline pumps, vending machines, or other similar devices indicating only the contents of the device, the pricing of the contents, directional and instructional information as to the use of the device, and other similar nonadvertising information not exceeding four square feet in gross surface area for each exposed face and not exceeding an aggregate gross surface area of eight square feet.
M. 
Political signs, provided that the political signs are removed within 10 days following the election for which the sign was erected.
N. 
Real estate signs, provided that the no more than one sign is located on the property intended for sale, except on a corner lot two signs shall be permitted. A real estate sign shall not exceed 12 square feet for a residentially zoned property and 32 square feet for a nonresidentially zoned property.
O. 
Construction site signs identifying an architect, engineer or contractor when placed on a construction site and not exceeding 12 square feet in area only during the construction process.
Unless otherwise permitted by City ordinance, the following signs are prohibited in every zoning district:
A. 
Signs which are constructed, erected, placed or installed in such a manner so as to obstruct or distract motorists, or pose a threat to pedestrian or vehicular travel.
B. 
No signs shall be permitted that:
(1) 
Have spinners, reflectors, or similar materials displayed outside a building.
(2) 
Emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odor.
(3) 
Are inflatable, except those associated with exempt holiday decorations.
(4) 
Contain an open flame in a way to attract attention.
C. 
Except for time and temperature indicators with digital or analog movement, signs shall not contain moving parts or use flashing, sequential or intermittent illumination. The source of light shall be steady and stationary.
D. 
No sign shall be constructed, placed, erected or maintained which either because of its illumination or location, poses a danger to vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or obstructs free ingress to or egress from any window, door, emergency exit, or fire escape.
E. 
No sign other than an official traffic sign or political sign may be erected within the right-of-way line of any street, including sidewalks and walkways.
F. 
Signs which imitate, interfere with, or obstruct the view of an official traffic sign or signal is prohibited. In addition, any sign, because of its design or location, that may be confused with an official traffic sign or signal, are also prohibited.
G. 
Off-premises advertising on an automobile, truck, or other vehicle is prohibited if that vehicle is parked for no other purpose than to advertise for a period of three or more consecutive days, or more than one day for any thirty-day period per year, or the vehicle is otherwise being used primarily for displaying such sign, and the vehicle is parked in or visible from a public right-of-way.
H. 
Portable and wheeled signs.
I. 
A frame or sandwich board and sidewalk, or curb sign.
J. 
Banners, pennants, streamers, balloons, and gas filled signs or figures.
K. 
Projecting signs which are attached to a building and project more than 15 inches beyond the wall surface of the building to which the sign is attached.
L. 
Signs which are attached to a tree or utility pole unless the owner of the telephone pole agrees to the attachment. No sign shall be painted, pasted, nailed, stapled, or otherwise attached to utility poles, trees, fences, fire hydrants, or in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs.
M. 
No sign shall be placed so as to obstruct ventilation or light from a building.
N. 
No sign shall include statements, words, or pictures that are considered to be vulgar, obscene, or pornographic. No sign shall depict specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities.
O. 
Any nonconforming sign that is prohibited under this section may continue to exist, but shall not be moved, altered, repaired or replaced except in conformity with this article of the chapter.
The placement, construction, relocation or alteration of signs shall require a zoning permit and be governed by the following Sign Table:
Sign Type
Permitted Zone
Maximum Number of Signs
Maximum Sign Area
Maximum Height of Freestanding Signs
Maximum Height of Wall, Window or Roof Signs
Maximum Projection from Wall
Minimum Setbacks for Freestanding Signs
Billboard
LI GI
1 per lot
300 square feet
25 feet
Not permitted
Not permitted
15 feet
Business
CC CH LI GI
2 per lot or building
36 square feet with no more than 3 window signs per building
15 feet
Top of the wall for a wall sign, or below the highest point of the roof for a roof sign
4 feet
5 feet
Directional or Informational
All zones
4 per use
2 square feet per sign unless not legible from a street than no more than 8 square feet
5 feet
Top of the wall for a wall sign, or below the highest point of the roof for a roof sign
2 feet
1 feet
Institutional
All zones
1 per principal building
32 square feet or 64 square feet each exposed side
15 feet
Top of the wall for a wall sign, or below the highest point of the roof for a roof sign
4 feet
5 feet
Name plate or identification
All zones
1 per dwelling unit
6 square feet
8 feet
8 feet
NP
2 feet
Shopping Center or Strip Mall
CC CH
1 per lot with unlimited wall or window signs
200 square feet
20 feet
Top of the wall for a wall sign, or below the highest point of the roof for a roof sign
4 feet
10 feet
Special Event
All zones
None
16 square feet
10 feet
Top of the wall for a wall sign. Roof signs NP.
2 feet
1 feet
A. 
Sign regulations generally. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, signs may only be constructed, relocated, altered, placed or maintained when in compliance with the following:
(1) 
Lighting. A sign:
(a) 
With lighting shall be steady and stationary and constructed and maintained so that all lighting is shielded and directed away from public rights-of-ways and adjoining properties.
(b) 
May not include a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling an emergency vehicle or facility.
(c) 
Incorporating LCD, LED, plasma, CRT, pixelated lights, or other animated or video-like displays and projected displays shall be limited to the GI and CH Zoning Districts and shall:
[1] 
Consist of sufficient size lettering and symbols so it could be immediately recognized by motorists.
[2] 
Display simple and static messages for immediate recognition by motorists. Messages shall be complete in each display cycle and shall not require viewers to see multiple display cycles to derive its meaning.
[3] 
Use instantaneous transitions from one message display cycle to the next with no blank-outs, scrolling, fading, streaming, zooming, flashing or any other animated effect to facilitate immediate recognition by motorists.
[4] 
All properties utilizing a dynamic message display sign must remove all exterior promotional banners, sandwich board signs, and may not use any temporary signage.
[5] 
Each message display cycle shall comply with the following minimum time standards: total sign area with up to 64 square feet: 17 seconds; total sign area with between 64; and 300 square feet: 28 seconds.
(2) 
Corner lots. When one sign is permitted and the sign is to be erected on a corner lot, a second sign shall be permitted of equal size so that each sign may face a street. Where two signs are permitted, this special rule for corner lots shall not apply in that it is not the intent of this section to allow three signs on a lot.
(3) 
Construction material. All signs shall be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and secured in a safe manner. The areas surrounding all signs shall be maintained in a neat, clean, and attractive condition.
(4) 
Compliance with other laws.
(a) 
In the event that the Pennsylvania Highway Beautification Program or another law or regulation has a more restrictive regulation governing signs, then the more restrictive regulation shall apply.
(b) 
No sign shall advertise activities or products that are illegal under federal, state, or local municipal laws or regulations.
(c) 
A sign must be erected in accordance with the applicable building and electrical codes, when applicable.
B. 
Specific regulations for certain signs.
(1) 
Event signs.
(a) 
All temporary event signs may be erected and maintained for a period not to exceed 30 days prior to the special purpose, occasion or event and shall be removed by the property owner or person erecting, placing or maintaining the sign within seven days following the completion or conclusion of the purpose, occasion or event, or within three days following the date when the circumstances leading to their erection no longer apply.
(b) 
Event signs erected on private property must be located at least 10 feet from another sign.
(2) 
Billboards.
(a) 
Billboards shall be located on a vacant lot or a lot developed to less than 2/3 of the permitted building coverage.
(b) 
Billboards shall not be located within 150 feet from any residential structure and street intersection.
(c) 
A billboard sign shall be a minimum of 500 feet from another billboard sign.